06 April 2010
The patience of former French trainer Jean Pfersdorff was rewarded when the promising Danroad three-year-old filly, Francilienne, broke through for her first win in the School Balls 1600 at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Ridden by talented apprentice Jason Collett, Francilienne became the 32nd individual winner for well-performed Highview Stud-based sire Danroad when she scored a half-length victory.
“She is a very talented filly but I have had to wait for her to fully mature,” Ruakaka-based Pfersdorff said.
“In her last couple of runs she had not finished far away and I was confident she was going to go close to winning this time,” he said.
“Even her run in the Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day was a good effort as she finished just in behind the top fillies in the country in a Group 2 race.”
Pfersdorff purchased Francilienne as a yearling from the Highview Stud mixed bloodstock dispersal sale.
Her dam, Astral Bay, was an unraced Star Way mare who comes from the same family as Group 1 winning gallopers Beau Zam and Sarrera and recent emerging star Bruce Almighty.
Beau Zam collected five Group 1 victories during an outstanding career and these included the AJC Derby and Tancred Stakes.
Sarrera posted two Group 1 victories during her racing career with these successes coming in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney and the Doomben Cup in Brisbane.
Pfersdorff came to New Zealand 10 years ago from France where he trained a number of high-class gallopers.
“I only have a small team in work in New Zealand but enjoy the lifestyle here very much and it’s nice to keep my hand in with the training,” he said.
Francilienne will have her next start at Ellerslie on April 17.
